Bay awaits news

Like most major leaguers who are fast wearying of the daily drudgery of spring training, former North Idaho College and Gonzaga University star Jason Bay is watching the calendar these days. So are Jack Wilson and Xavier Nady.

It’s not entirely because they are eager to begin the Pittsburgh Pirates’ season.

The sooner the season starts, the sooner Bay, Wilson and Nady will begin to learn where they might be when the season ends.

The three are the Pirates’ most valuable trade assets, except for the club’s mostly young starting rotation, and new Pittsburgh general manager Neal Huntington listened to offers for them during the off-season.

Clearing the bases

John Smoltz felt tightness in his right shoulder and missed his start against Cleveland at Kissimmee, Fla., but the Atlanta veteran said he would have pitched through the pain if the game counted. … New york Mets right-hander Pedro Martinez was pain-free, and it appears that he won’t be under a pitch count heading into the regular season. … Pirates second baseman Freddy Sanchez felt pain in his surgically repaired right shoulder, a major setback that may force him to begin a second consecutive season on the disabled list. … The Milwaukee Brewers placed starter Yovani Gallardo on the 15-day disabled list because of a knee injury. … The New York Yankees chose Chien-Ming Wang to start opening day at home against Toronto and purchased the contract of infielder Morgan Ensberg. … The perjury case against Barry Bonds was put on hold for three months, with prosecutors telling a federal judge they plan to obtain a new indictment against baseball’s home run king.